The joy of stuff: Gadgets and gizmos that can add fun to life (video)

From kitchen gizmos and iPhone apps to the little green gauge that tests Christmas tree lights, it seems like there's a gadget out there to charm even the most curmudgeonly tightwad.

"The price of technology has gone down. It's affordable for everyone," says Robert Alberino of West Haven, owner of Rob's PC Shop, www.robspcshop.com, a year-old computer training, consulting and repair business.

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"We're at a point where you could have 4,000 to 5,000 widgets you want to plug into your computer. You just have to make sure you get the right ones," he says.

Digital BBQ Tongs -- This grilling gadget has temperature sensors in the tips of the tongs. You can set it for seven types of meat, and a chime will sound when the meat is properly cooked. These sell for about $40 at www.amazon.com.

Flight Status -- It's an iPhone application you can use to check on individual airline flights. The cost is $4.99.

The Bad Decision Blocker -- Let's say you're headed for Spring Break and there's a particular person you don't want to call during a fit of drunken dialing. Or perhaps you want to avoid texting your ex-girlfriend, but don't think you have the willpower. The Bad Decision Blocker, a 99-cent iPhone app, will block outgoing phone calls, texts and e-mails to certain people in your address book for a pre-determined amount of time.

Deni 4100 Musical Cake Tray -- Be honest. Haven't you always wanted a cake tray that plays the "Happy Birthday" song? For about $40 at amazon.com, this baby also spins as you apply icing to the cake and comes with LED lights showing where to cut for even slices.

Alberino, 32, is currently enamored of a couple of BlackBerry applications that have made it much easier for him to get his messages.

One is called YouMail. It's a free application that allows him to see a list of all his phone messages, complete with information about who called, what time they called, and where they can be reached. All he has to do is tap a particular message with his finger if he wants to hear it, then make another tap to return the call.

"You don't have to dial anything. It's done for you," Alberino says.

His other beloved application is Vlingo, a voice activated message-retrieval system. Vlingo will even give him a transcript of his messages if he wants it.

Not familiar with Footzyrolls? They're ONLY the latest thing in comfortable footwear. These are flat, street shoes that can be rolled up into a ball and kept in a purse. They sell for about $25 and are available locally at New Haven's Idiom Boutique, 1014 Chapel St.

"They're cute and they come in neat colors," Wang explains. "I heard about them online; people are raving about them. It makes so much sense, especially for when you have formal events where you wear heels, then you want to change into something else later."

Other gadgets are infiltrating the kitchen and the tool chest.

For example, Joe Lucarelli, 51, of New Haven has a slew of new doodads.

His son gave him an infrared stud finder, which came in handy when Lucarelli painted his living room and needed to re-hang a large mirror. "As soon as it finds a stud, it lights up," he says. "I told everyone I work with about it."

An avid cook and gardener, Lucarelli also has a couple of good kitchen gadgets in his life. One is a thin-blade, Pure Komachi 2 knife for cutting bagels, and the other is a Zyliss knife for cutting greens. "Basically, it stops the rust from growing on greens, like on Romaine lettuce," he says of the Zyliss.

It's a good bet he'll have more innovative doodads in his future, too.

"I'm the kind of person who loves to hang around the hardware store, looking for new stuff," he says.